Tipster Adnan alerts us to the case filed this week in Manhattan State Supreme Court by Pakistani-American pilot Faisal Baig against JetBlue, which revoked his hiring the eve of his start date:

Baig said he asked for an explanation and was told JetBlue considered him “a security risk.”

“I asked if it’s my name or my religion,” said Baig, who had been a pilot for Independence Air for nearly six years, beginning in 2000, before applying to JetBlue in January. “The woman on the phone said she didn’t want to go into it, but basically she said yes.”

“I was shocked,” said Baig, who was not born in this country but came here with his family when he was 7 years old and is a U.S. citizen. “I was devastated. I don’t know how to describe it to you. Her words more or less told me I wasn’t an American.”

Jenny Dervin, a JetBlue spokeswoman, confirmed that the airline had been advised the lawsuit was filed but said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Now this suit was just filed, so we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about its merit. But I thought I might take a look at the reactions on the popular right-wing site Free Republic, just to check in on the state of the discourse. Here’s a sample:

They better not be hiring muslim pilots. You can’t trust a dang one of them, I don’t care if they were raised in Yonkers!

I would say “your religion has a cowardly penchant for killing women and children and civilians in a cowardly manner, and yes its because of your name and your religion…Next!”

I suspect Jet Blue offered him the job — subject to an extensive background check, and during that background check, they found something they didn’t like, such as membership in a radical mosque, friends or relatives on the DHS terrorist list, etc.

Did it occur to this guy that a major red flag comes up when on his transcripts from pilot school, he did not take courses on how to land?

I would not board a plane with a Muslim pilot, under any circumstances.

Send this camel poker packing

I would think that a slick lawyer could make a VERY strong case that a Pious Muslim — one believing in and following the dictates of the Koran and Haddiths — is by definition a “security risk” to non Muslims…. Damn - from all the horrific news we’re getting related to the lunatics acting out in Pakistan — being a Pakistani should be sufficient grounds to be confined to a straitjacket and deported.

JetBlue’s job offer is contingent on an extensive background check. They offered him the job, and THEN found out he was Paki-Muslim. In other words, he was not forthright in his application, or during his interview.

OR amybe it was all the DUI arrests…who knows & I doubt we will ever see any followup on the story. THe story has accomplished what the writer desired = Jet blue is racist….

Sorry…The American Citizen gig doesn’t work anymore. We said early on they would start using citizens as a strategy.

Finally, a magnanimous perspective:

Although, I will say that at least this guy refers to himself as an American and not an Arab-American, which does win him a couple of points with me.

Have a nice weekend!